NEWS on LIFE, WORK, & PLAY in Mississippi's College Town

2017 SRW Charity Profile: Children’s of Mississippi

April 13, 2017

Starkville Restaurant Week begins on Monday, April 17 and we are excited to showcase thirty-one participating restaurants! But, as you know, Restaurant Week isn’t just about food. It’s about community, and how we pull together to support great organizations doing charitable work! Every time you eat at one of the participating restaurants next week, you’ll have the opportunity to vote for one of our three Charity Finalists to receive $5000 from Cadence Bank. It’s a way for us to work together to bring awareness to and support non-profit groups who are making an impact locally and statewide. Today, we present our third charity profile…

Children’s of Mississippi

How long has your organization been in operation and how was it founded.

Pediatric care began in 1955 while the children’s hospital was established 1967. In 1997 construction was completed on Batson Children’s Hospital. Currently, we are in the process of expanding the children’s hospital and aim to break ground later this year.

What is your organization’s on-going mission?

Our mission is to improve the health of children in Mississippi by providing world-class care, educating tomorrow’s medical leaders and promoting discovery and innovation.

Does your organization work with any other groups or non-profit organizations to accomplish its mission?

Yes, we work with several non-profit groups with similar missions. In the past we have worked with Friends of Children’s Hospital, American Cancer Society, Ronald McDonald House, Make-A-Wish and many more organizations.

In what ways does your organization impact Starkville and the Golden Triangle area?

We treated nearly 1,000 children from the Starkville area last year for a wide range of things.

Can you briefly share one of your success stories?

Stennis Miller | Age 10 | Starkville

It’s not every day you meet a miracle like Stennis. One afternoon in September 2010, he started running a fever that led to a painful, sleepless night. Stennis’ mother, JuQuitta Ferguson-Docher, thought her son was having a pain crisis brought on by his sickle-cell disease. When local doctors confirmed this was something much more serious, they sent Stennis to Batson Children’s Hospital by ambulance.

“The next few weeks of my life changed me” said JuQuitta. After he was admitted to the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU), test results showed he had meningitis, a staph infection, accumulated pneumonia and a yeast infection in his lungs. He was no longer breathing on his own and needed more than six pints of blood. His liver and kidneys shut down and his body had swollen to more than twice his normal weight. Stennis also endured a series of strokes that caused brain damage. But… he was alive. Over the next several weeks, Stennis slowly progressed and was able to move from the PICU to a floor where he began physical and speech therapy.

By Thanksgiving he was talking, walking and running; a miracle indeed. Today, Stennis is a happy 10-year-old “… actively doing all the little boy things he wouldn’t have been able to do if it weren’t for Batson Children’s Hospital,” said JuQuitta. “I’m forever grateful.”

Approximately how many people does your organization serve each year?

Children’s of Mississippi treats over 150,000 kids each year.

How does your organization receive funding for your work, and what would the $5000 SRW Charity Prize help you achieve?

The $5,000 prize would go a long ways. It could be used in numerous ways to help us provide care our children need. It could fund much needed equipment or help with patient funds.

What do you feel is your group’s greatest accomplishment?

Improving the lives of the kids we are fortunate enough to treat each year. Each child that walks through our doors is special and all of us take deep pride in making sure we give them the best care possible.

Where can people go to learn more about your organization, and how can people get involved?

You’re one of our Top Three SRW Charities! Now tell us what it means to you to be included as part of Starkville Restaurant Week as one of the Top Three Charities.

We are so excited to be a part of this great event. This is a great platform to share the inspiring stories that come out of our hospital, but also an opportunity to continue to improve the hospital and clinics so that every child in Mississippi has access to the healthcare they need at home.